UIDAI introduces TOTP as a new feature to fast track Authentication

Two months back UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) launched the Aadhaar mobile application i.e m – Aadhaar. It is a mobile application on your smart phone which helps you carrying your Aadhaar information such as name, address, DOB, photograph which are linked with your unique Aadhaar Card on your phone and negates the need to carry it on your wallet.

Just after two months of its launch, the application hits 1 million downloads. To make the application even more convenient to people, UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has introduced Time Based One Time Password (TOTP) as a new feature to fast track authentication.

Earlier in the application, the users didn’t have the option to enter the OTP manually. However with the introduction to TOTP, the users would not have to wait for OTP to arrive on their mobile since a dynamic OTP will be always available on m – Aadhaar App on their mobile phones.

This would make the process easier in a place which has network issues in their area.

After the introduction of the new feature Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, UIDAI stated that

to improve both security and convenience, TOTP has been configured in the Self Service Update Portal (SSUP) and e – Aadhaar download and in future, all OTP based Aadhaar authentication applications will be migrated to TOTP based Aadhaar authentication

Pandya further said that

It is an 8 digit long numeric string generated as one-time temporary password (OTP) by an algorithm and valid only for 30 seconds

This app has other useful features like biometric locking and unlocking system, which is a very helpful feature as it secure biometric authentication by locking biometrics data.

In this application

Once resident enables Biometric Locking system their biometric remains locked till the Aadhaar Holder chose to either Unlock it (which is temporary) or Disable the Locking system

To download the application go to Google Play Store on your Android smart phones and type ‘m – Aadhaar‘ in the search option. Download and install the app.

Also note that this application is available only for the android users. Iphone users have to wait for this facility.

m – Aadhaar has become an important application as it is considered to be a valid proof of identity for travellers in Indian Railways.